Agricultural additive dispensing apparatus

ABSTRACT

A ground working apparatus for dispensing an agricultural additive to the soil is provided. The apparatus is mounted to a tool bar that is operable to be towed across an agricultural field. The apparatus includes a coulter blade in combination with a knife element, and a conduit attached thereto operable to dispense the agricultural additive in the soil. The knife element and the coulter blade characterize a gap therebetween. The gap is defined by a forward edge of the knife element having a radius of curvature that is less than a radius of curvature of the coulter blade. The conduit in interchangeably attached by at least one conduit mount plate at the knife element.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to an agricultural additive dispensing apparatus,more specifically, relates to combination knife and coulter apparatushaving a knife configured to reduce plugging opportunities and enhancedispensing of agricultural additives to the ground.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A wide variety of agricultural implements have evolved that areconfigured to be self-driven or pulled by a tow vehicle across anagricultural field. These agricultural implements employ various groundworking apparatuses with tools that have evolved for use in conditioningand improving utilization of seed beds for planting in various soilconditions.

Particularly in regard to row type planting, ground working apparatusesemploy a variety of tools that have evolved to create spaced rows so asto achieve the best possible utilization of the soil area, as well as toallow field trash to pass between the ground working tools while theimplement is pulled by a tow vehicle across the field. Towards this end,known ground working apparatuses of tools have been designed to dispenseadditives in the soil while the implement distributes seed across thefield.

One such known ground working apparatus includes a coulter blade and aknife positioned close behind. The coulter blade is generally configuredto slice through the soil, crop residue, sod, etc., while the knifefollowing close behind carries a conduit or tube employed for dispensingadditives (e.g., liquid or dry fertilizer, herbicides, pesticides, etc.)in the soil.

However, known ground working apparatuses that are configured todispense additives have several drawbacks. For example, these knownground working arrangements typically do not efficiently discharge trashthat gets pulled between the coulter disc and the knife. An accumulationof this trash increases opportunities for undesired skidding thatdiminishes the effectiveness of the rotating coulter blade as it ispulled across the field. Also, a lower end of the knife is customarilyintegrated with or fixed by a weld to a knife tip that is subject towear and tear as it is pulled through the soil. Likewise, the conduit ortube mounted on the knife is permanently fixed with a weld to the knife,and is subject to wear and tear in a similar manner as described abovein regard to the knife tip. Consequently, the entire knife and conduitarrangement must be replaced periodically.

Therefore, there is a need or desire for a ground working apparatusconfigured to enhance conditioning and dispensing additives to the soil.The ground working apparatus should be configured to be utilized with awide variety of agricultural implements. Moreover, the ground workingapparatus should be designed so that tools and components that aresubject to wear and tear can be readily interchanged.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a ground working apparatus that meets thedesires and needs described above. The ground working apparatus of thepresent invention thus enhances the soil conditioning and effectivedispensing of the agricultural additives to the soil. Moreover, theapparatus of the invention provides for ready interchangeability oftools and/or components that are more subject to wear and tear.

In a first embodiment of the present invention, a ground workingapparatus for dispensing an agricultural additive to the soil isprovided. The apparatus is mounted to a tool bar that is operable to betowed across an agricultural field in a forward direction of travel. Theapparatus includes a coulter blade supported from the tool bar, and aknife element positioned rearward from the coulter blade relative to theforward direction of travel. The apparatus further includes a conduitmounted at the knife element and operable to dispense the agriculturaladditive to the soil. The conduit or tube is attached by a conduit mountplate to the knife element. The conduit mount plate includes at leastone opening extending therethrough and configured to align with anopening extending through the knife element so as to receive at leastone fastener operable to interchangeably secure the conduit or tube atthe knife element. The ground working apparatus can further include atip having a female portion with an opening extending through. Theopening in the female portion of the tip is configured to align with anopening through a male portion at a lower end of the knife element so asto receive a fastener operable to interchangeably secure the tip to theknife element.

The preferred ground working apparatus further includes a swing arm inrotational support of the coulter blade, and a support arm carrying theknife element from the swing arm. The support arm includes a length witha forward end and a rearward end and that is generally longitudinallyaligned relative to the forward direction of travel. The forward end ofthe support arm affixed to the swing arm, and an upper end of the knifeelement is attached at the rearward end of the support arm.

In one embodiment, the rearward end of the support arm includes a firstpair of openings in generally vertical alignment and that are generallyparallel to a second pair of openings. The upper end of the knifeelement includes an elongated and generally linearly-aligned openingthat is configured to align with one of the first and second pair ofopenings in the support arm so as to receive a pair of fastenersoperable to selectively position the knife element along the length ofthe support arm in a rearward direction from the coulter disc.Alternatively, the upper end of the knife element includes a firstelongated knife opening located adjacent and generally parallel to asecond elongated knife opening, each first and second knife openingsextending in a generally vertical direction. One of the first and secondknife openings is configured to align with a pair of openings at therearward end of the support arm so as to receive a fastener operable tovariable position the knife element along a length of the support arm.

The preferred knife element includes a forward edge relative to theforward direction of travel of the apparatus. The forward edge includesa continuous radius of curvature less than a radius of curvature of thecoulter blade. The difference in radius of curvatures is such that adistance between the knife element and the coulter blade increases asone travels generally upward along the forward edge of the knifeelement. The preferred continuous curvature extends from a lower end ofthe knife element to a mount point generally where the knife elementmeets the support arm. The knife element and the attached conduit areconfigured to be adjustable in a vertical direction along the elongatedopening at the upper end of the knife such that the knife and attachedconduit adjust in a generally vertical direction relative a rotationalaxis of the coulter blade while generally maintaining a horizontaldistance of the knife element from the rotational axis of the coulterblade.

In another embodiment, the present invention provides an agriculturalimplement for dispensing an agricultural additive to the soil as theimplement is pulled in forward direction of travel across anagricultural field. The implement includes a tool bar and ground workingapparatus mounted to the tool bar. The ground working apparatus includesa coulter blade supported from the tool bar, and a knife elementpositioned rearward of the coulter blade. The knife element includes arearward edge and a forward edge relative to the forward direction oftravel. The apparatus further includes a conduit attached at a rearwardedge of the knife element and operable to dispense the agriculturaladditive to the soil. The forward edge of the knife element defines acontinuous radius of curvature that is less than a radius of curvatureof a circumference of the coulter blade.

The present invention also provides a method of operating a groundworking apparatus configured to apply an agricultural additive to theground in accordance with the above description.

Other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will becomeapparent to those skilled in the art from the following detaileddescription and accompanying drawings. It should be understood, however,that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicatingpreferred embodiments of the present invention, are given by way ofillustration and not of limitation. Many changes and modifications maybe made within the scope of the present invention without departing fromthe spirit thereof, and the invention includes all such modifications.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention are illustrated in theaccompanying drawings in which like reference numerals represent likeparts throughout.

FIG. 1 illustrates a partial side elevation view of an agriculturalimplement employing one embodiment of the ground working apparatus ofthe present invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates a detailed side elevation view of the ground workingapparatus illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the ground working apparatusof the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a detailed exploded view of another embodiment of a knifeelement of a ground working apparatus having multiple mounting points inaccordance with the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a detailed view of another embodiment of a conduit associatedwith the ground working apparatus of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIG. 1, a preferred embodiment of a ground workingapparatus 20 in accordance with the present invention is shown. Theground working apparatus 20 is mounted to an agricultural implement 25configured to be pulled by a tow vehicle (not shown) across a field in aforward direction of travel (illustrated by arrow 28).

The implement 25 shown is of a conventional type used to apply ordispense an agricultural additive or crop nutrients or animal or humanwaste (sludge) or the like to soils, typically simultaneously withplanting seed.

The agricultural implement 25 includes a toolbar 30 supported by a frame35 mounted on a series of wheels 40. The tool bar 30 and frame 35 areconnected to a tongue arm 45 configured to attach to the tow vehicle(not shown).

Still referring to FIG. 1, the ground working apparatus 20 is configuredto dispense a fertilizer or other agricultural additive to the soil asthe apparatus 20 passes between adjacent rows where seed is to beplanted. A seed dispensing device 50 is located rearward of the groundengaging apparatus 20 and configured in a known manner to dispense seedto a furrow on either side of the apparatus 20. In this manner, theground working apparatus is operable to enhance soil utilization andconditioning.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the preferred ground working apparatus 20generally includes a swing arm 55 supported from the tool bar 30 (SeeFIG. 1). The swing arm 55 is pivotally supported by a shaft 60 extendingthrough a bushing 65 (see FIG. 3) of a hinge casting 70. The swing arm55 includes a lower shaft 75 in rotational support of a coulter blade 80about a rotational axis 82 (see FIG. 3). The coulter blade 80 isgenerally secured to the lower shaft 75 by a hub assembly 85 in a knownmanner. A compression spring 90 in combination with a tensioning rod 95is configured to bias the swing arm 55 and attached coulter blade 80 ina downward direction towards the ground.

Still referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, a support arm 100 in support of aknife element 105 is mounted in a rearward direction from the swing arm55 and coulter blade 80 relative to the forward direction of travel 28(See FIG. 2). The support arm 100 includes a forward end 110 and arearward end 115 and is generally longitudinally aligned. The forwardend 110 of the support arm 100 is affixed (e.g., welded) to the swingarm 55. A bend 120 is disposed between the forward end 110 and therearward end 115 of the support arm 100 such that the knife element 105is supported generally in-line with the coulter blade 80 in the forwarddirection of travel 28 of the implement 25. As shown in FIG. 3, oneembodiment of the rearward end 115 of the support arm 100 includes afirst pair of openings 125 in general vertical alignment and adjacent toa second pair of openings 130.

Still referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the knife element 105 generallyincludes an upper end 135 and a lower end 140. The upper end 135 of theknife element 105 includes an elongated opening 145 configured to alignwith one of the first and second pair of openings 125 and 130 of thesupport arm 100 so as to receive a pair of fasteners 150 therethroughoperable to selectively position the knife element 105 along a length ofthe support arm 100. The elongated opening 145 is of a length such thatthe knife element 105 is adjustable in the vertical direction relativeto the support arm 100 as well as the rotational axis 82 (See FIG. 3) ofthe coulter blade 80.

Although the above-described knife element 105 is described with asingle elongated slot 145 configured to align with one of the first pairof openings 125 and 130 at the second end 135 of the support arm 100,the invention is not so limited. In another embodiment as illustrated inFIG. 4, the knife element 105 can include a first elongated opening 152located adjacent to a second elongated opening 154. Both elongatedopenings 152 and 154 are generally vertically aligned so as to alignwith one of a pair of openings 125 and 130 at the rearward end of thesupport arm 100. In a similar manner to that described above, thefasteners 150 can extend through one of the first and second elongatedopenings 152 and 154 and through one of the pair of openings 125 and 130at the second end 115 of the support arm 100 so as to selectivelyposition the knife element 105 along a length of the support arm 100.

Referring back to FIGS. 2 and 3, the preferred knife element 105 furtherincludes a forward edge 155 opposite a rearward edge 160 relative to theforward direction of travel 28 (See FIG. 2) of the implement 25. Theforward edge 155 at the upper end 135 of the knife element 105 includesa generally linear portion 165 that extends generally a length of theelongated opening 145. The forward edge 155 of the knife element 105further includes a continuous curvature portion 170 that extends fromthe linear portion 165 towards the second end 140 of the knife element105. The curvature portion 170 is of a continuous radius of curvature(β) that is less than a radius of curvature (α) of a circumference ofthe coulter blade 80.

Referring specifically to FIG. 3, the lower end 140 of the knife element105 includes a male portion 180 with an opening 185 extendingtherethrough. The preferred male portion 180 is welded to the lower end140 of the knife element 105. Yet, it is understood that the maleportion 180 can be of integrated composition with the lower end 140 ofthe knife element 105 and is not limiting on the invention.

Still referring to FIG. 3, the ground working apparatus 20 furtherincludes a tip 190 having a female portion 195 configured therein toreceive the male portion 180 at the lower end 140 of the knife element105. The tip 190 includes an opening 200 extending therethroughconfigured to align with the opening 185 through the male portion 180 ofthe knife element 105 so as to receive a fastener 205 therethroughoperable to interchangeably attach the tip 190 at the lower end 140 ofthe knife element 105. The tip 190 is generally configured to engage thesoil, and thus is subject to wear and tear over time. Theinterchangeability of the tip 190 allows for ready replacement withoutreplacing the entire knife element 105.

Referring again to FIGS. 2 and 3, the ground engaging apparatus 20further includes a pair of conduits 210 attached at the rearward edge160 of the knife element 105. The pair of conduits 210 are generallyconfigured to dispense granular agricultural additive to the soil as theimplement 25 is pulled across the field. The pair of conduits 210 allowfor the increased rate of dispensing granular product so as to provideadequate agricultural additive to both rows on either side of theapparatus 20. The preferred pair of conduits 210 is interchangeablyconnected by a pair of conduit mounting plates 215 and 220. The pair ofconduits 210 is subject to wear and tear during operation in a mannersimilar to the tip 190 as described above. Thus, the pair of mountingplates 215 and 220 provide for the ready detachment and reattachment ofthe pair of conduits 210 without replacement of the entire knife element105.

Referring specifically to FIG. 3, a preferred embodiment of the conduitmounting plates 220 and 225 are configured to receive the pair ofconduits 210 therebetween. The left-hand bracket 215 includes at leastone upper opening 230, and the right-hand bracket 220 includes at leastone upper opening 235. Each bracket 215 and 220 also includes at leastone lower opening 240 and 245, respectively. Each of the at least oneupper openings 230 and 235 is configured to align with an elongated slot246 at the rearward edge 160 of the knife element 105, and each of thelower openings 240 and 245 is also configured to align with the other,so as to receive fasteners 248 therethrough operable to interchangeablyattach the mounting plates 215 and 220, and the pair of conduits 210enclosed therebetween, to the knife element 105. The left-hand andright-hand brackets 215 and 220 are generally triangular shaped and of abent configuration so as to receive the pair of conduits 210therebetween. The mounting plate 215 includes a tab 250, and themounting plate 220 includes a tab 255. The tab 250 is generallyconfigured to align with one of the pair of conduits 210, and the tab255 is generally configured to align with the other of the pair ofconduits 210. The tabs 250 and 255 are configured to receive a hoseclamp (illustrated in dashed line and by reference 260 in FIG. 3) toprovide additional support of the conduits 210 to the knife element 105.

FIG. 5 illustrates another embodiment of a conduit 300 operable to beattached by a conduit mount plate 310 to the knife element 105 of theground working apparatus 20, in a manner similar to the pair of conduits210 attached by the mounting plates 215 and 220, at the elongated slot246 of the knife 105 (See FIG. 3). The conduit 300 is characterized by asmaller diameter, relative to each of the pair of conduits 210, so as todispense an agricultural additive in the fluid form. The conduit mountplate 310 is generally a plate structure that is generally parallel tothe vertical plane and extending in the forward direction relative toforward direction of travel 28 (See FIG. 1). Referring to FIGS. 3 and 5,the mount plate 310 includes a pair of openings 315 configured to alignwith the elongated slot 246 of the knife element 105 so as to receivefasteners, similar to fasteners 248 described above, therethrough tointerchangeably attach the conduit 300 to the knife element 105.

In operation, an operator sets the ground working apparatus 20 in amanner such that the lowest point of the coulter blade 80 is beneath aseed furrow level. The knife element 105 is set at a depth to insurethat seed placement is consistent across the implement 25. Anagricultural additive is dispensed through the conduits 210 at therearward edge 160 of the knife element 105 at a depth equal to or deeperthan the seed placement. If the moisture conditions are poor, the knifeelement 105 can be raised to prevent variation in the seed depth. As theimplement 25 is pulled by a tow vehicle (not shown) across the field,the pivot assembly allows the coulter blade 80 to freely move while theimplement 25 is following the varying terrain of the field. The coulterblade 80 is allowed to caster such that it runs in-line with thedirection of travel 28 of the implement 25. The coulter blade 80 isoperable to cut the ground in a manner such that the trailing knifeelement 105 and the attached conduit 210 are operable to dispense theagricultural additive at the desired soil depth to the field.

The knife element 105, positioned rearward of the coulter blade 80, isgenerally set at a depth such that it does not run lower than thecoulter blade 80 itself. Typically, the knife element 105 is set at adepth of about ¼ inch higher than the lowest point of the coulter blade80. The knife element 105 can be adjusted along the length of itselongated slot 145 so as to accommodate the circumference or diameter ofthe coulter blade 80.

Under conditions where there is excessive residue caught or trappedbetween the coulter blade 80 and the knife element 105, an operator canreadily reposition the knife element 105 in a rearward direction at thesecond pair of openings 130 of the support arm 100. The residue canbecome a problem if it is allowed to follow-up the knife element 105 andplug up the coulter blade 80 so as to result in a loss of ability of thecoulter blade 80 to rotate freely on the swing arm 55.

The knife element 105 is placed adjacent to the coulter blade 80. Apinch point where the knife element 105 meets the support arm 100provides a small clearance such that residue does not wrap-up and aroundthe trailing knife element 105. Yet, inevitably, the residue does riseor follow-up the knife element 105 and increases opportunities to plugthe coulter blade 80 and diminishes the ground working apparatus'sability to apply fertilizer appropriately. To solve this problem, theforward edge 155 of the knife element 105 includes a curvature portion170 of a continuous radius of curvature (β) that is less than a radiusof curvature (α) of a circumference of the coulter blade 80. Thisdifference in radius of curvatures (β) and (α) creates a gap 330 (SeeFIG. 2) between the knife element and coulter blade 80 configured tomore readily spill residue to the sides of the knife element 105 withoutplugging the coulter blade 80.

To provide as much clearance as possible for the spillage of residue,the knife element 105 attaches to the support arm 100 at or near anupper portion (above the rotational axis 82) of the coulter blade 80.The knife element 105 is mounted to one of two pairs of openings spacedalong the length of the support arm 100 so as to provide the ability tovary the distance between the coulter blade 80 and the knife element 105for varying residue conditions (e.g., extremely heavy trash conditions,etc.).

The tip 190 and the conduits 210 located at the lower end 140 of theknife element 105 are subject to wear and tear and/or damage associatedwith ground working operation of the implement 25. When desired, anoperator can readily remove the fastener 205 and interchange or replacethe tip 190 without having to replace the entire knife element 105.Likewise, when desired, an operator can readily remove the mountingbracket 215 and 220 from the knife element 105 and interchange orreplace the conduits 210, and reattach the mounting brackets 215 and 220via the fasteners 248 to the knife element 105. If switching to anagricultural additive in a fluid form, the mounting brackets 215 and 220and associated pair of conduits 210 can be removed and the conduit 300can be attached by the mount plate 310 via fasteners 248 to the knifeelement 105 for the dispensing of the fluid form of agriculturaladditive to the field. In contrast, the tip and conduits of known groundworking apparatus are welded at or cast with the knife element and thusrequire replacement of the entire knife element, which is both morecumbersome and expensive to perform.

Although the above described ground working apparatus 20 is describedwith reference to an agricultural implement 25 for planting, theinvention is not so limited. The ground working apparatus 20 can beemployed with implements configured for a variety of uses (e.g.,cultivating, etc.) and is not limiting on the invention. Also, it isunderstood that the type of additives (crop nutrients, dry or liquidfertilizer, pesticides, herbicides, etc.) dispensed by the groundworking apparatus 20 to the soil can vary.

Many changes and modifications could be made to the invention withoutdeparting from the spirit thereof. The scope of these changes willbecome apparent from the appended claims.

1-21. (canceled)
 22. A ground working apparatus for dispensing anagricultural additive to a soil, the ground working apparatus mounted toa tool bar that is operable to be towed across an agricultural field ina forward direction of travel, comprising: a coulter blade supportedfrom the tool bar and configured to engage the soil; a knife elementpositioned rearward from the coulter blade relative to the forwarddirection of travel; at least one conduit mounted at the knife elementand operable to dispense the agricultural additive to the soil; at leastone conduit mount plate configured to attach the at least one conduit atthe knife element, wherein removal of the at least one conduit mountplate and at least one conduit from the implement does not cause removalof the knife element from the implement; a swing arm pivotally supportedfrom the tool bar and in rotational support of the coulter blade; and asupport aim having a forward end and a rearward end relative to theforward direction of travel, wherein the forward end of the support armis affixed to the swing arm, and wherein the rearward end of the supportarm is mounted at an upper end of the knife element, wherein therearward end of the support arm includes a first pair of arm openings ingeneral vertical alignment and generally parallel to a second pair ofarm openings located adjacent thereto, and wherein the upper end of theknife element includes a first elongated knife opening located adjacentand generally parallel to a second elongated knife opening, each firstand second knife openings extending in a generally vertical direction,and wherein one of the first and second knife openings is configured toalign with one of the first and second pair of aim openings of thesupport arm so as to receive a fastener therethrough operable tovariably position the knife element along a length of the support arm.23. The ground working apparatus as recited in claim 22, wherein the atleast one conduit mount plate includes at least one opening extendingtherethrough configured to align with a knife opening extending throughthe knife element so as to receive at least one fastener therethroughoperable to interchangeably attach the at least one conduit at the knifeelement.
 24. The ground working apparatus as recited in claim 22,further comprising: a tip having a female portion with an openingextending therethrough, wherein a lower end of the knife elementincludes a male portion configured to be received by the female portionof the tip, wherein the male portion includes an opening extendingtherethrough configured to align with the opening extending through thefemale portion of the tip so as to receive a fastener therethroughoperable to interchangeably attach the tip to the knife element.
 25. Theground working apparatus in claim 22, wherein the knife element includesa forward edge relative to the forward direction of travel, and whereina portion of the forward edge defines a radius of curvature (β) that isless than a radius of curvature (α) of the coulter blade.
 26. The groundworking apparatus as recited in claim 25, wherein the radius ofcurvature of the forward edge of the knife element generally extendsfrom the lower end of the knife element above a rotational axis of thecoulter blade.
 27. The ground working apparatus as recited in claim 22,wherein the knife element and the at least one conduit are configured toadjust in a generally vertical direction while generally maintaining ahorizontal distance of the knife element from a rotational axis of thecoulter blade.
 28. An agricultural implement for dispensing anagricultural additive to the soil as the implement travels in a forwarddirection across an agricultural field, comprising: a tool bar; a groundworking apparatus mounted to the tool bar, the ground working apparatusincluding: a coulter blade supported from the tool bar; a knife elementpositioned rearward from the coulter blade relative to the forwarddirection of travel, the knife element having a rearward edge and aforward edge relative to the forward direction of travel; at least oneconduit attached at a rearward edge of the knife element and configuredto dispense the additive to the soil; and a support arm having a forwardend and a rearward end relative to the forward direction of travel,wherein the rearward end of the support arm includes a first pair ofopenings extending therethrough in general vertical alignment andgenerally parallel and located generally rearward of a second pair ofopenings extending therethrough, wherein the knife element and thecoulter blade characterize a gap therebetween, the gap defined by aforward edge of the knife element that includes a continuous radius ofcurvature (β) that is less than a radius of curvature (α) of the coulterblade. 29 wherein the knife element includes an upper end opposite alower end, the upper end mounted at a rearward end of the support arm,the upper end including an elongated and generally linearly-aligned slotconfigured to align with one of the first and second pair of openings atthe rearward end of the support arm so as to receive a pair of fastenersoperable to selectively secure the knife element along a length of thesupport arm.
 29. The implement as recited in claim 28, furthercomprising: a tip that includes a female portion, wherein the second endof the knife element includes a male portion configured to receive thefemale portion of the tip, and wherein the male portion of the knifeelement includes an male portion opening extending therethroughconfigured to align with a female portion opening extending through thefemale portion of the tip so as to receive a fastener operable tointerchangeably secure the tip to the knife element.
 30. The implementas recited in claim 28, wherein a mount plate is attached at the atlease one conduit relative to the forward direction of travel, the mountplate having at least one opening extending therethrough configured toalign with a knife opening extending through the knife element so as toreceive at least one fastener operable to interchangeably secure the atleast one conduit to the knife element.
 31. The implement as recited inclaim 28, wherein the at least one conduit includes a first conduit anda second conduit, and the implement further comprising: a first mountplate and a second mount plate configured to receive the first andsecond conduits therebetween, wherein the first and second mount plateseach include at least one opening configured to align with an openingthrough the knife element so as to receive a fastener therethroughoperable to attach the conduits to the knife element.
 32. The implementas recited in claim 31 wherein at least one of the first and secondmount plates includes a tab configured to receive a hose clamp.
 33. Theimplement as recited in claim 32, wherein the tab is configured togenerally align with one of the first and second conduits.
 34. A methodof operating a ground working apparatus configured to dispense anagricultural additive to the soil, the method comprising the steps of:splitting the soil with a coulter blade; working the soil with a knifeelement positioned rearward of the coulter blade relative to a forwarddirection of travel of the apparatus; aligning an elongated andgenerally linearly-aligned slot at an upper end of the knife elementwith one of the first and second pair of openings at a rearward end ofthe support arm; receiving a pair of fasteners operable to selectivelysecure the knife element along a length of the support arm; andinserting a fastener through an opening extending through a mount plateof a conduit and through an opening through the knife element in amanner that interchangeably attaches the conduit at the knife element;dispensing the agricultural additive through the conduit to the soil.35. The ground working apparatus of claim 34, wherein the at least oneconduit is only fastened by the at least one conduit mount plate at arearward edge of the knife element.